Mobile boom-supported platform



Sept. 27,1960 w. E.rHoRNToN-TRUMP y 2,954,092

MOBILE BooM-sUPPoRTEp PLATFORM Filed Aug. 26, 1957 5 sheets-'sheet 1 Sept. 27, 1960 w. EfTHoRN'roN-TRUMP 2,954,092

MOBILE BooM-sUPPoRTED PLATFORM Filed Aug. 26, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WOP/VE Sept. 27, 1960 w. E. THoRNroN-TRUMP 2,954,092

' MOBILE BOOM-SUPPORTED PLATFORM Filed Aug. 26, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .r/ A m MOBILE BooM-sUPPonrED illlnrroniw Walter E'. Thorntonffrump, Box 160, Glver; British Columbia, Canada` Filed Aug. 26, 19517 Seti-N; 680,366

1 Claim'. (Cl. ISL-2) This invention rel'atesto. elevatable platform structure, andmore particularly to a mobile vehicle havingl swingahle boom means as a part' thereof supporting a work.- mans platform, theprrnary object beingtoincorporate in a relatively Small, inexpensive machine, allcomponents necessary for renderingthev same highly maneuverable. in a number of directions.

United States Patent if@ It is the most important object' of thepresent invenl form may be lowered substantially to thegrouncl notwithstanding the relatively small dimensions ofthe vehicle itself which. supports the boom structure aforementioned. -Anotherp'important object of the instant. inventionis to provide a machine asv above set forth that is properly balanced in all directions to essentially obviatethedanger of injury to the workman by virtue ofi upset or other accident occurring during normal.v use. of the. machine.

A further object of the present invention is.to .provide a novel steering arrangement` controlled fronrthe: plat.- form at the outermost end.l of theV boomV and. operable entirely through a brake assembly that guideslthewehicle as one of its wheels pivotsY freely about. a. vertical axis.

Another important` object of the present invention. lies in the arrangement of Vparts that provideforcontrol of both horizontal and vertical movement ofthe boom,.fore and aftmovementof the vehicle, and steering, allthrough the boom structure and without interference. with its freedom of verticali and horizontal. swinging. movement.

In the drawings: Y

axle housing 24 of the assembly 12 land extendrhorizontal- 1y and forwardly therefrom. Y

Members 20^and-22 terminate at, the ft'xrwardmostr ends thereof in portions 26 and 28 respectively, and extend upwardly and forwardly, as seen in Fig; l, and, inwardly in converging relationship at' the front of the vehicle. 10 in the manner best seenV byFi'g. 3. The portions 2.6' and 28 in turn terminate in short horizontal portions 30 and 32 respectively, overlying the wheel 1'4f and' converging to a point of interconnection at' the` vertical'y axis 176i of wheel 14 in the manner shown in Pig; 4. Additional bracing for the. frame I8 may be providedin theform ofV angularly disposed`V elements 34 interconnecting' portions" 20 and 26 and ,portionsZZ and 28;.` i,

Frame portions ,26' and 28' atei interconnected by" a transverse member` 36 having; mountedv thereon' structure forsupportng a boom38Y which is initheznature ofV an upstanding mast' 40. Mast 40- .is' rotatable aboutw its verticali axis and the means for sov supportinggmast 40 includes, a socket 42 on thel crossmemblerp36, rotatably receivingthe lowermost end'ofthe mastl and' acol'lar 44` rotatably receiving ,theV vmast 4 0- intermediate; its: end. Collarl 44 is in turn supported by" downwardly; and"` for wardly slopingy structure 46 that connectsv with frame parts;30vand,32; Y 1 Y Tubular boom 38 is attachedy ,tothe mast 40 at the uppermost end of the latter forpvertical swinging movement' thrcuigh` the medium of: a horizontalpin 4,8 and such swinging movement of the booml 38 Y takesv place upon operation ofi-a hydraulic' piston and cylinder assenn blybroadly designated bythe'numeral Stlwhi'ch pivotally interconnects mast 40fand`boorn 38 below Athe lattenand forwardly` of the mast; 4 0 in the manner' bestl seen in Piglviz', y t, Itis to be noted'that'the actuating'assembly 50;` rotates with the mastV 40* andl with the boom 38' asja unit ,about Athe vertical axis of mast40 andthe latter is caused. to

Figure l is a side. elevational. view of a-mobileboorn.- ,Y

supported platform made. pursuant tothe present Vinvention.. Y

Fig. 2 isa plan view thereof. Y

Fig. 3' is an enlarged, fragmentary, plan'view of the vehicle per se,v eliminating the boom` and platform assembly.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational view of' the boom structure.

Fig. 5. is a fragmentary, perspective view showing the innermost end of the boom and the adjacent components;

and

Fig. 6y is afragrnentary, front perspective view showing a portion of the platform and associated parts.

All of, the componentsA of the invention illustrated in the-drawings are mountedv upon, andV supported. by, a mobile. vehicle broadly designated by the numeralltl .that is. provided with a rear Wheel and axle'as'aembly E2, anda front caster wheel 14 adapted to rotate' freely .abouta vertical axis 16. A novelv frame 18.*includes;Y a

rotate uponA actuation of another; hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly `broadly designated byjthe numeral 52; The assembly 52 pivotally interconnects mast 40 with frame 18, and to this end, there is provided'a lateral extension 54 on the mast 40 receiving one end o'fv'the assembly v5,2 and a standard 56; receiving theV opposite end of the assembly 52 andextending upwardly from thefframe portion 28'. i Y f Y.

A workmans platform broadly designated by the. nu.- meral 5S,- is attached to the boom ,38at theoutermost end ofthe" latter remote from mast/40. Platform; 58 is' verticallyy swingable relative to boom 38 by virtue ofpa horiontal pivot pin 60 forming the means of' connection of platform 5S to the boom 38. However, the swinging movement of the platform 5'8 relative to boom 38. islimited by an equalizer link `62 that pivotally connects plat= form 58 with mast 40'. Thus, as the boom 38j and, therefore, the platform 58, are causedto-swi'ng vertically throughoperation of the assemblyl Sti-inthemanner illustrated by Fig. 1 of the drawings, the platform 58'V is maintained essentially in an upright positionby action of equalizer link' 62'- Y Y All of the power requirements'of the machine are supplied by a single` prime mover 64fsuch as an internal combustion engine suitably supportedlbyv the frame 18 between the framepieces 20 and/2:2 forwardly: of .the assembly 1 2, and of course, behind the 'wheel' 14.` Y f l Wheels V66 and `68 of the assembly 12 are powered through Va conventional differential (not shown)l Within housing 70 and such differential is in ,turn operably coupled lwith transmission 72 through chain '7 4 and its related parts. Transmission 72 is in turn driven vdirectly from the engine `64 by belt and pulley means 7'6' Any suitable throttle control'Y (not shown) for theengine 64 may.` be provided onthe platform. l5& andV operably coupledvtlfr the engine "64 through a flexible line extending rearwardly and inwardly from the platform S8 to the engine 64.

The hydraulic components for the assemblies 50 and 52 are also operated from the engine 64 including inthe usual manner, a pump 78, reservoir 80, and operable conduit connections with the cylinders of assemblies 50 and 52, as well as with the valve controls about to be described, it being noted that pump '78 is connected directly with the crank shaft of engine 64.

Each of the wheels 66 and 68 is provided with a hydraulic brake 82, and each brake is in turn controlled by a foot pedal 84 carried by the platform 58 as seen in Fig. 2. Transmission 72 is also controlled from the platform 58 for fore and aft movement of the vehicle by means of a swingable lever 86 on the platform 58.

Finally, through the medium of tiltable foot pedals 88 on platform 58, the operator is able to control the two assemblies 50 and 52. To this end, as best seen in Fig. 5, three triangular plates 90, 92 and 94 are swingably mounted on the pivot shaft 48 and a corresponding set of three cranks 96, 98 and 100 are swingably mounted on the pivot shaft 60 (see Fig. 6). Plate 90 and crank 96 are pivotally interconnected by link 102, plate 92 and crank 98 are pivotally coupled by elongated link 104, and plate 94 is pivotally coupled with crank 100 through a link 106, all of such links 102, 104 and 106 passing through the boom 38 as seen in Fig. 4.

Control valves 108 and 110 for assemblies 50 and 52 respectively, are mounted in side-by-side relationship on the mast 40 for rotation therewith and are manifestly coupled with the hydraulic system'which includes the assemblies 50 and 52. Manual levers 112 and 114 for the control valves 108 and 110 respectively, are vertically swingable and operably coupled with plates 90 and 94 respectively through links 116 and 118.

The tiltable foot pedals z88 are operably coupled with corresponding cranks 96 and 100, through links, one of which is shown in Fig. 4 and designated by the numeral 120. Another such link 122 pivotally connects the lever 86 with the centermost crank 98.

Plate 92 corresponding to lever 86, has a link 124 pivotally connected thereto and extending through the mast 40, it being noted also that the two links 116 and 118 are housed by the mast 40. An operable connection is provided between the link 124 and the transmission 72 which includes, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, crank 126, linkage 128, rotatable shaft 130, and links 132.

A master cylinder is provided for each brake 82 respectively, beneath platform 58, one of which may be seen in Fig. 4 and designated by the numeral 134. Lines 136 for brake fluid extend from master cylinders 134, around the pivot shaft 60, through the boom 38, around the pivot shaft 48, downwardly through the mast 40, and thence rearwardly to an operable connection with the corresponding brakes 82 as noted in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Each foot pedal 84 is mounted on a crank 138 swingable on the platform 58 and pivotally connected with the correspondng master cylinder 134.

The operator is protected by an upstanding cage 140 on the platform 58 in any suitable manner. Oftentimes the workman on the platform 58 needs compressed fluids readily available and to this end, there is shown in Fig. 3 a unit broadly designated by the numeral 142 operably coupled with the engine 64 to provide such pressure. It may be conveniently conveyed to a point of use adjacent the platform 58 through the medium of equalizer bar 62 which is tubular and provided with a connection 144 with the unit 142, as well as `an outlet hose or the like 146.

A hood 148 covering the components shown in Fig. 3 and carried by the frame 18 between the wheels 66 and 68, underlies the boom 38 and slopes downwardly and rearwardly as at 150 to permit full lowering of the boom 38 as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

After starting the engine 64, the platform 58 may be lowered substantially to the ground as shown in Fig. 1

4 by actuating the lever 112 for the control valve 108, which is in turn operably coupled with assembly 50 as above set forth. The operator need merely then step into the cage 140 and, standing on the platform 58, he is able to control all movements. First, by tilting one of the foot pedals 88 in one direction, valve 108 is opened in a manner to cause extension of the assembly 50 and, therefore, raising of the platform 58 to the full-line position shown in Fig. l, or to the dash-line position thereabove. By the same token, the operator on platform 58 may control the horizontal swinging of platform S8 in the manner shown in Fig. 2. This Vis accomplished by tilting the other foot pedal `88 in one direction to control the Valve and, therefore, the hydraulic assembly 52.

In any position of the platform 58, the operator may cause the vehicle 10 to move forwardly or in reverse by swinging of the lever 86 in the proper direction.

Finally, while the transmission 72 is operating, depressing of one of the foot pedals 84 will apply the corresponding brake 82, causing the vehicle to execute a turn. Noteworthy is the fact that, when one of the brakes 82 i-s thus applied, caster wheel 14 swivels freely about its vertical axis v16.

When the pedals 88 are actuated, a push-pull action is imparted to the corresponding links to swing either crank 96 or 100, which in turn imparts a push-ball motion to the corresponding links 102 and 106 respectively. Links 102 and 106 in turn swing the plates 90 and 94, causing the links 116 and 118 to move vertically, thereby swinging the levers 110 and 112 for valves 108 and 110 respectively.

By the same token, when the lever 86 is caused to swing fore or aft, transmission 72 is controlled through link 122, the centermost crank 98, line 104, plate 92, link 124, and the operable connection with transmission 72 which includes parts 126, 128, 130 and 132.

iNoteworthy also is that either or both of the brakes 82 may be applied and held by virtue of the fact that thel pedals 84 are provided with notched means 152 engageable with the platform 58.

An important feature o-f the invention lies in the fact that a relatively small tricycle arrangement may be provided in the vehicle 10 without danger of upsetting, and to this end, the extent of horizontal swinging movement of the platform 58 is preferably limited substantially as shown in Fig. 2.

The arrangement is such also that platform 58 may be lowered substantially to the ground, hence the provision of mast 40 rising above the highest portion 30-32 of frame 18. Thus, as seen in Fig. l, when the boom 38 is centrally disposed and lowered, it is interposed between the wheels 66 and 68 adjacent the `inclined portion 150 of hood 148. The disposition of all of the power components including engine 64, forwardly of the rear axle and upon the under-slung portions 20 and 22 of the frame 18, permit of such lowering of the platform 58. Furthermore, so far as stability is concerned, the machine is capable of supporting a substantial amount. of weight on the platform 58 because of the way in which the boom 38 extends from adjacent the front of the machine to a point extending rearwardly beyond the assembly 12.

In any event, each movement, i.e., ascent and descent of the platform 58, horizontal swinging thereof, fore and aft movement of the vehicle `10, and tur-ning movement of the vehicle as controlled by brakes 82, are all mutually independent and, therefore, the operator may maneuver the machine at any time irrespective of his position either vertically or horizontally.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

In a machine of the class described, the combination of: a vehicle frame having an elevated and forwardly tapered front portion and a relatively wider and lower rear portion; axle means laterally traversing said rear portion and mounted on the latter; a pair of groundengaging wheels operably mounted on said axle means at opposite extremities of the latter; a prime mover on the frame'operably coupled with said axle means for driving the latter; a third ground-engaging wheel; caster means rotatably carrying said third wheel and pivotally mounted on said front portion beneath the latter; a vertical mast rotatably mounted atop said front portion rearwardly of the vertical axis o-f castering and the horizontal axis of rotation of said third wheel; an elongated boom pivotally mounted at one end thereof on the mast adjacent the top of the latter and extending rearwardly therefrom beyond the rear of the frame; a platform adapted for carrying a workman mounted at the opposite end of the boom; power means operably coupled with the frame and the mast for rotating the latter through a limited, acute, horizontal angle only, said angle being bounded by vertical planes through the axis of rotation of the mast and each of said pair of wheels respectively; and power means operably coupled with the mast and the boom for swinging the latter through a limited, acute, vertical angle only, the lower extreme of said vertical angle disposing the boom in downwardly inclined relation to the mast with the platform below and rearwardly of said axle means, the upper extreme of said vertical angle disposing the boom in upwardly inclined relation to the mast with the platform Iabove and rearwardly of said axle means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,450,152 Miller Sept. 28, 1948 2,616,768 Stemm Nov. 4, 1952 2,724,620 Johnson et al. Nov. 22, 1955 2,754,087 Johnson July l0, 1956 2,786,723 Harsch Mar. 26, 1957 2,815,250 Thornton-Trump Dec. 3, 1957 

